RLWC: New look Roos, Kiwis fully loaded for week three

Kodi Nikorima will start at five-eighth for New Zealand’s clash with Tonga.

AUSTRALIAN coach Mal Meninga has selected Ben Hunt and James Maloney in the Kangaroos lineup to face Lebanon for what will be their first games of the World Cup.

They weren't the only changes for the team's final pool game on Saturday night, Valentine Holmes set to play in the No.1 jumper, and Cameron Munster and Tom Trbojevic to get a shot in the centres.

"After Saturday night, every member of our squad will have played in the tournament, which gives us a great chance to see some combinations," Meninga said.

"We will also have a good opportunity to see a number of players in different positions which will be important for us as we progress through the tournament."

Meanwhile, Kodi Nikorima's superior game management has seen him earn the nod over Te Maire Martin at five-eighth for New Zealand's crunch Rugby League World Cup pool match against Tonga.

The Brisbane-based utility was a standout for the Kiwis in their first-up 38-8 victory over Samoa, but rested for last weekend's 74-6 thumping of Scotland.

Martin scored a hat-trick against the Scots and helped guide his Cowboys outfit to this year's NRL grand final but he hasn't done enough to earn coach David Kidwell's nod.

Nikorima will work alongside halfback Shaun Johnson on Saturday, as the Kiwis look to grind down Mate Ma'a, armed with a giant forward pack including Jason Taumalolo.

"Te Maire wants it for sure, 100 per cent, but we've gone with Kodi because we think he can direct the team along with Shaun and has that little bit of X-factor, that confidence," Kidwell told reporters.

"I'm not saying Te Maire doesn't want it, he wants it too, but we just thought Kodi can control that side while Shaun looks after the other side. "It's just created competition for places." In what is expected to be the Kiwis' most challenging pool match, Kidwell has mostly reverted to the side which dispatched Toa Samoa.

* It seems clear that David Kidwell has landed on his best 17 and that it contains Kodi Nikorima at five-eighth. The nippy Broncos half combined well with Shaun Johnson in the win over Samoa and has got the jump on Te Maire Martin. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Jordan Rapana return on the wings for Peta Hiku and Jason Nightingale while Thomas Leuluai slots in at hooker.

* It's another new look team for the Kangaroos. Valentine Holmes starts at fullback, Dane Gagai comes in on the wing and Tom Trbojevic joins Cameron Munster in the centres. James Maloney will partner Cooper Cronk in the halves and it's a full strength forward pack outside of Felise Kaufusi at lock.

* Wayne Bennett is using the final group game to rotate his squad, switching Gareth Widdop to fullback and Stefan Ratchford to wing. Kevin Brown will partner Luke Gale in the halves and Mike McMeeken will get his first action of the tournament in the backrow.